NASSAU, BAHAMAS – National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has announced that a correctional officer involved in the fatal shooting of a family dog will face no disciplinary action after an internal investigation found no breach of firearm policies. The decision has sparked strong criticism from animal welfare advocates who characterize it as predictable institutional protectionism.
The incident occurred on March 6 along Soldier Road during a funeral procession for retired correctional officer Andrew Sears. Video evidence circulated widely online shows correctional officers walking with leashed dogs past the property of 92-year-old Bahamian musician Duke Errol Strachan when two resident dogs began barking and approached the procession. One officer, who already had his handgun drawn, fired a single shot that killed Strachan’s three-year-old dog.
Minister Munroe defended the investigation’s findings, stating that authorities examined all circumstances from the officer’s subjective perspective rather than through hindsight. ‘They looked at all of the facts,’ Munroe stated. ‘For instance, if you discharge a firearm where you may be in danger of causing collateral damage, that would call for discipline. Nothing that would indicate he breached any policy regarding firearm use was found.’
Bahamas Humane Society President Kim Aranha expressed vehement opposition to the decision, calling the shooting ‘unwarranted’ and the investigation outcome predictable. ‘They’re just protecting themselves,’ Aranha stated. ‘I called it from the beginning. The man killed the dog and the dog was not attacking the man.’
In response to Munroe’s collateral damage argument, Aranha countered: ‘To me that doesn’t fly. You’re saying that policeman could shoot at something as long as there’s nobody else around? Why was he walking around with his gun unholstered?’
Meanwhile, the Department of Correctional Services has apologized to Strachan and committed to providing him with a new dog and financial support for its care. Prison Commissioner Doan Cleare emphasized the importance of bringing closure to the matter. Strachan expressed satisfaction with the resolution while still mourning his loss: ‘I appreciate their concern, and they came here to settle it. They’re going to find me a dog.’ The nonagenarian added that while he forgives the officer, he still considers the shooting ‘totally unnecessary.’